I've been living with these scary palpitations--tachycardia & whatnot- for over 30 years! Had ALL kinds of tests--"event monitors" etcr. Drs. say--"Ignore them!"--HA! If THEY felt these things---i wonder if THEY would or COULD ignore them! These things have altered my lifestyle!

Afraid to go out---when i'm on a plane i pray i don't get them! I hear what YOU are saying!

I know exactly what you are going through. I'm not sure if you remember, but I started taking toporol xl for my pvc's. I still get the pvc's now and then atleast a couple a day more at night time, I was hoping by taking this med they would be gone forever. Well today is the first day of my cycle and I keep feeling them. I'm depressed...I really don't know why they bother me so much...I know they are not harmful, I guess it's the feeling, it's so annoying. I'm sorry you are going through this maxx, let your Cardiologist know they are driving you nuts. Try to toporol, I am not having any side effects, but I do still feel the palps, not as often though...

You are both so helpful. Does it have to be this way? Wotan, after 30 years, if they aint got you, will they? It is the feeling of them that is so scary. I very seldom will travel. My cardio states that they are harmless and treating them would prove to be more bothersom than not. Maybe everybody does get these and we are just more sensitive to them? I truly want to stop this "obsession" with them. ANy ideas? Thanks for being there

Hi Maxx, oh, I feel so bad for you. Don't know if it was you or not I e-mailed, but I take MagOx 400 (Magnesium) 2 tablets and Caltrate plus D, 2 tablets per day and it has really, really helped my pvc's. You might consider trying that. Make sure you drink your 8 glasses of water a day too. Staying hydrated helps too. Stay well. Let me know if you try the magnesium and calcium. Angela

Thanks Angela, I am going to try magnesium and caltrate (as well as the water). I sometimes feel that I am going off the deep end with these and cant even discuss them. I actually get sick of hearing myself. Thanks for all of the info and please stay in touch.

Just to let you know I had a horrible night last night, palps every heartbeat. I hardly slept so now I am cranky. These things make me literally sick, and I am taking the beta blocker. Sheesh! I am scared to go to sleep tonight. I really think it's hormonal too....I have been fine till yesterday when I started my cycle. No caffeine, no alcohol..no chocolate...nothing! I don't even feel stressed. These things are going to get the best of me...I was whinning to my husband last night and he said "just stop thinking about them" I try and they just don't want to go. Anyways I'm here for you if you need me...take care sis!!!

Hi Mary, you poor thing. You sound more annoyed rather than scared. That is probablly a good thing. When you went on the Beta blocker was it for the palpitations? I went on something once, it made me so tired.

I don't even mention them to my husband, he would just tell me they have been checked out and are normal! NORMAL!

You should take something to help you sleep tonight. CHeck-in tomorrow and let me know how you are. Take care, and thanks for being there to listen.

This being told to ignore them and that they're harmless doesn't even make sense sometimes. When the doctor tells me that, I want to say "Oh ok. Next time I have a heartrate of 220bpm I won't go to the hospital and have treatment, and you can explain to the coroner about how harmless it all was". But of course being a polite sort of girl I don't. I feel so sorry for you people who get them a lot, I just have them for an hour or so every morning, as long as I take the Flecainide. Without the Flecainide it's all over the place. I had a 5 hour plane journey planned a couple of years ago and asked the doctor what to do if I had really fast tachycardia and he just said to talk to a steward and they'd get the captain to turn the plane round!!! I'd rather not! Can you imagine the embarrassment!!? So we all just plod along... I'm very glad we have this chance to talk to each other.

Hi Mary and MaryAnn, I am so disgusted with these pvc's. I cannot believe there are so many people out there with them, yet they cannot find out what causes them or how to get rid of them. It does consume your entire life. My husband is usually very supportive of things but when I try to talk to him about this he doesn't know what to say and I know he's tired of hearing me. I with they would have some kind of clinical trial to find out more about these things. There certainly would be enough volunteers!!! Hope all is well today. I feel crappy cause I've been getting a lot of pvc's and I feel drained afterwards. Does it drain you too? Angela

Do i feel "drained"? You bet! Drained is an understatement--i feel like someone sucked the "life force" out of me. Sometimes, after even a short trip (i had to take a 2 hr bus ride from Philly to NY one day to visit someone. Just had lunch--then came back)--I barely had enough energy to shower when i got back....& flopped on the bed!

Then, the "episodes" scare the heck out of me! Like i'm gonna die! What a way to live. I take Tenormin (25 mg day) Some days...& even weeks--I'm OK---then...when my heart goes on a "bad cycle"...it is bad!

YES--a study would be a great idea! Feels reassuring that i'm not alone! I'd like to hear from more people. Get back--Thanks--Robert

Hi Robert, does it feel like your Dr. and his staff just want to roll their eyes when you call to make an appt? I don't even bother anymore. I figure if these things are "gonna" kill me then oh well. My Dr. annoys me because he doesn't understand. I wish I knew of a Dr. that had these things so he would have some compassion. I just love when they tell you not to worry about the pvc's. Excuse me! This is my heart you're talking about, I need it to stay alive. Kinda hard not to worry about it when it's not beating right. Thanks for your input. Angela

Hi Angela, my cardio was specific when he said that he did not want to see me for a year. Do you think we just need reassurance? I am so perplexed by what is going on in my body. Maybe we are just more aware than others about our systems. I have no idea. I do know people that say "I get them, doesnt everyone"? They don't even flinch. I go into a full -fledged panic attack.

Whoa, I haven't read the boad in a day and there are lot's of interesting posts. I'm really not scared of these darn things anymore, I'm just really annoyed by them. I am actually starting to yell at them. My husband is going to put me away soon!!! So if you don't see me on here you will all know where I am. Talk to a friend of mine who is a RN and she said "everyone has them" some are more sensitive and get more of them. I guess we are those lucky people. Now, I have a question for all of you, I have had pvc's since the birth of my daughter 11 years ago. I never had a feeling where my heart in thumping harder and racing just a bit faster, is this also a part of pvc's? Or do I need to go see my physco Cardiologist??? Two nights ago I had pvc's all night without doing anything to prevent them, so yesterday I said what the hell, I am going to have a very large piece of pumpkin pie with whip cream...even sugar starts my pvc's...(how sad) and guess what? I only had a couple during the night...woohoo!!!! Well, everyone take care and it's so nice to have people that understand...my entire family thinks it's all in my head..HA! And to my two sis's (Maryann & Angela) ***hug****

Hi Mary, just when I think I am accepting these darn things I seem to get another symptom along with the pvc's so I kind of get freaked out all over again. I don't know. I'm just so glad I found this forum and all of you. What great support. Thank You for the hug, right back at ya!! Take care, Angela

So glad (or rather sad) to hear that so many experience irregular heart beats. None of my friends or family members have these and as you said, if you don't have them, you really can't understand what we go through. I had a cath on 11/16/06, but due to arrythmias going strong, cardiologist did not do angioplasty & stent (only 60% blocked). I started Toprol XL which has helped, the heart rate & BP went down. Meet w/cardio again this Wed & he said we will probably do another cath since chest pressure & pain between shoulder blades have not eased & cannot walk much w/o shortness of breath. I'm on both calcium channel blocker & beta blocker & the 2 together seems to work best instead of just one. Betapace is a great med for arrythmias. Sometimes I feel like an old car trying to start on a cold day! This seems to be a great support group!

Hi guys (and my 2 sis'). Mary, what is the point in going to the cardio. They never do anything. I think if youre walves are clear and your structue is normal - they don't care. I feel like a flaming hypocondriach. I truly think that they are rolling there eyes at me. Enough! We need to accept these (if everything is "normal" and move on. hugs

MaryAnn

MAXX

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had a drink last night and no palps........................I do think we just are more sensitive (easy for me to say because today is a good day)!X

Hi Mary Ann,in answer to your question, Flecainide is an anti-arrhythic drug used to control heart rate and rhythm. I don't know if it is used in America though, I'm in England. I find it very helpful although it doesn't suit everyone. Yes, I did take the flight. What happened was that a couple of weeks beforehand I had a bout of atrial flutter, which is not my usual problem, despite being on Flecainide. But after having it sorted out in hospital I felt fine, so I went on holiday and hoped for the best and everything went well. This morning I finally got an appointment for my 4th ablation, it's later this month. Hope you're having a good day today, regards, Juliette

Hi Juliette, no I've never heard of it - I am in Canada. Glad you got on the plane and it went well. I think once we realize that it's not going to kill us - we can calm down. I went to Scotland last year and worked myself into such a state before the trip that it was really silly. If they're going to get me here, they will get me there. Take Care, MaryAnn

LOLOLOLOL....The three of us seem to get good conversations on this board....We always hit 20-25 posts, they are easy to find....

by the way no palps yesterday and today!!! Going out tonight and having a drink! It's time to celebrate and give up on these darn things....my frame of mind is going to be this is the way MY heart beats! All haywire...LOL